11 St. Patrick’s Day Drinks to Get Your Irish On

Every year, people pack into bars, parades and house parties to celebrate the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, also known as the biggest national drinking day of the year. While it might seem like the only drinks out there are Guinness and Jameson, there’s plenty of other brews and cocktails that’ll have you painting a shamrock on your face and playing the bagpipes in no time. If you’re as tired of Miller Lite with green food coloring as we are, give one of these a try. Come on, what would St. Patrick do?

Harpoon Celtic Ale – Harpoon Brewery (Irish Red Ale, 5.4% ABV) – Brewed specifically for the St. Patrick’s Day season; this is a malty, smooth amber ale that became Harpoon’s official spring beer due to enormous popularity during its initial release.

The Leprechaun – Perfect for gin and tonic fans, only with an Irish twist. Start with cubed ice in a glass, pour in 2 oz of Irish whiskey (Jameson or Bushmills) and fill in with tonic water. Top it off with a lime wedge for an extra touch of green.

Irish Car Bomb – Don’t attempt unless you’re ready to do some serious chugging. Start with 3/4 of a pint of Guiness Stout. Using a shot glass, pour a half shot of Bailey’s Irish cream, then a half shot of Jameson Irish whiskey. Drop the shot glass into the pint of Guiness and chug it down as fast as you can, otherwise it will start to curdle, leaving you green in a way you won’t enjoy.

Nutty Irishman – Having a shaker works best with this cocktail ideal for coffee and alcohol drinkers alike. Combine 1 oz each of Bailey’s Irish cream, Frangelico liqueur, and cream into the shaker, then pour into a glass filled with ice. This can also be done as a shot, with equal parts Bailey’s and Frangelico, but leave out the cream.

Angry Irishman – If you enjoy the taste of an Irish Car Bomb, but don’t find the stomach churning chugging appealing, try out this cocktail. Simply pour 2 oz. of both Bailey’s Irish cream and Irish whiskey (Jameson or Bushmills) over a glass with ice and start sipping.

Irish Martini – If you’re feeling a bit classier, this is a tasty drink packed with flavor and of course, booze. Combine 3 1/2 oz. Bailey’s Irish cream with 3/4 oz. Irish whiskey, a shot of cold coffee and ice into a shaker. Pour into a martini glass, and top off with some chocolate sprinkles for that extra taste.

Bonus Beer:

Newcastle Draught Keg – If you’re not interested in fighting the mob scene at the bar, bring the bar to your place! A perfect party starter and available at stores everywhere, the Newcastle mini-keg has 10 fresh pints of the famous brown ale, pressurized and ready to pour out an ice cold glass of liquid refreshment. Buy it here.

Nick is a freelance writer and web content writer living in Philadelphia. He contributes to blogs and websites covering topics including music, sports, craft beer, gaming, food and entertainment. Follow him on Twitter @xnicknj or @BeerServedRare